Englewood school board to consider transferring Dwight Morrow High School principals

By Stephanie Noda

STAFF WRITER |

Northern Valley Suburbanite

ENGLEWOOD - Teachers and community members are blasting the outgoing superintendent's recommendation to transfer the high school principal and an assistant principal from Dwight Morrow High School.

Board of Education members tabled a motion during the June 26 meeting that would move Principal Peter Elbert to Dr. John Grieco Elementary School and change Assistant Principal Joseph Armental's job title to athletics director. School board members called a special meeting for on June 30, after press deadline, to decide on the transfers.

If the resolution is approved, Daniella Small-Bailey, who as served as Grieco's principal for one year, would replace Elbert as principal at the high school.

But, the measure just doesn't target the leadership at the high school.

Noel Gordon - who serves as the director of curriculum, instruction and guidance - would become the director of guidance. Dorian Milteer's job title would change from director of testing to director of curriculum and instruction.

Elbert said he hoped the decisions are being made in the best interest of the students and was "curious" about the timing of the resolution, since Superintendent Donald Carlisle is resigning on June 30.

"I would think the oncoming chief school administration would make these administrative recommendations rather than someone that is leaving," said Elbert.

Armental said part of his frustration comes from a "well documented lack of consistent administration."

"No graduate since the early 1990s had the same administrative staff all four years of their high school career," said Armental.

Elbert and Armental have served as principal and assistant principal respectively for three years, with Armental inheriting supplemental responsibilities as athletics director for the last two years.

Elbert believed there was data to support his and Armental's track record at the high school. Since 2012, HSPA scores of language arts have increased from 18.5 percent to 32.3 percent in advanced proficient, however, partially proficient scores decreased from 16.1 percent to 11.2 percent.

Teachers and community members praised Elbert's leadership at the high school during the school board meeting.

Peter Mecca, a teacher at Dwight Morrow High School, said the biggest problem during his 16 years at the high school was "a lack of stable and continuous leadership." He said for the past three years, Elbert has put forth a plan for success, formed a great leadership team and empowered many teachers to establish new programming.

"The culture and climate of the school has improved immensely and there has been documented success in students' academic achievement," said Mecca. "I really don't understand why this is happening. Why is this being done now in a time of a lack of leadership before a new superintendent [is hired]?"

Some community members believed the move was retaliation for a high school reorganization plan Elbert and Armental proposed. The two pitched a plan to the school board in March to place classes at Dwight Morrow High School and the Academies@Englewood, a magnet high school program, under the same roof. The programs are separated by buildings.

Liz Corsini, director of campus youth service program "The Zone," said she found it "hard to believe" that an outgoing superintendent would make "such a profound last minute decision." She was concerned the move was being driven by school board members.

"This district is losing sight of what is most important: our students," said Corsini. "To think that you, our district leadership, will once again start a school year with different leadership teams without articulating a strategic vision for that shift is at best irresponsible, and at worse, morally wrong."

Board of Education President Howard Haughton said the superintendent has the sole authority to place an item on the school board's agenda.

"The board does not sit and decide in a classroom or in a vacuum that we're going to put on an agenda a particular staffing change," said Haughton.

Resident Brenda Crocker echoed Corsini concerns that Carlisle was deciding "the best route to take" when he will no longer remain in the school district.

"Mr. Elbert is not only a principal to the students, but he's also able to talk to parents," said Crocker. "I've called him on several occasions and he has always called me back even if it's after hours. To me, that means that's someone who actually cares."

Englewood school board to consider transferring Dwight Morrow High School principals

ENGLEWOOD - Teachers and community members are blasting the outgoing superintendent's recommendation to transfer the high school principal and an assistant principal from Dwight Morrow High School.

Board of Education members tabled a motion during the June 26 meeting that would move Principal Peter Elbert to Dr. John Grieco Elementary School and change Assistant Principal Joseph Armental's job title to athletics director. School board members called a special meeting for on June 30, after press deadline, to decide on the transfers.

If the resolution is approved, Daniella Small-Bailey, who as served as Grieco's principal for one year, would replace Elbert as principal at the high school.

But, the measure just doesn't target the leadership at the high school.

Noel Gordon - who serves as the director of curriculum, instruction and guidance - would become the director of guidance. Dorian Milteer's job title would change from director of testing to director of curriculum and instruction.

Elbert said he hoped the decisions are being made in the best interest of the students and was "curious" about the timing of the resolution, since Superintendent Donald Carlisle is resigning on June 30.

"I would think the oncoming chief school administration would make these administrative recommendations rather than someone that is leaving," said Elbert.

Armental said part of his frustration comes from a "well documented lack of consistent administration."

"No graduate since the early 1990s had the same administrative staff all four years of their high school career," said Armental.

Elbert and Armental have served as principal and assistant principal respectively for three years, with Armental inheriting supplemental responsibilities as athletics director for the last two years.

Elbert believed there was data to support his and Armental's track record at the high school. Since 2012, HSPA scores of language arts have increased from 18.5 percent to 32.3 percent in advanced proficient, however, partially proficient scores decreased from 16.1 percent to 11.2 percent.

Teachers and community members praised Elbert's leadership at the high school during the school board meeting.

Peter Mecca, a teacher at Dwight Morrow High School, said the biggest problem during his 16 years at the high school was "a lack of stable and continuous leadership." He said for the past three years, Elbert has put forth a plan for success, formed a great leadership team and empowered many teachers to establish new programming.

"The culture and climate of the school has improved immensely and there has been documented success in students' academic achievement," said Mecca. "I really don't understand why this is happening. Why is this being done now in a time of a lack of leadership before a new superintendent [is hired]?"

Some community members believed the move was retaliation for a high school reorganization plan Elbert and Armental proposed. The two pitched a plan to the school board in March to place classes at Dwight Morrow High School and the Academies@Englewood, a magnet high school program, under the same roof. The programs are separated by buildings.

Liz Corsini, director of campus youth service program "The Zone," said she found it "hard to believe" that an outgoing superintendent would make "such a profound last minute decision." She was concerned the move was being driven by school board members.

"This district is losing sight of what is most important: our students," said Corsini. "To think that you, our district leadership, will once again start a school year with different leadership teams without articulating a strategic vision for that shift is at best irresponsible, and at worse, morally wrong."

Board of Education President Howard Haughton said the superintendent has the sole authority to place an item on the school board's agenda.

"The board does not sit and decide in a classroom or in a vacuum that we're going to put on an agenda a particular staffing change," said Haughton.

Resident Brenda Crocker echoed Corsini concerns that Carlisle was deciding "the best route to take" when he will no longer remain in the school district.

"Mr. Elbert is not only a principal to the students, but he's also able to talk to parents," said Crocker. "I've called him on several occasions and he has always called me back even if it's after hours. To me, that means that's someone who actually cares."